LEWISTON — Defensive back Aidan Kennedy’s interception on the first play of the game acted like a fuse and triggered Trinity College’s endless, offensive splurge.
The undefeated Bantams collected two more interceptions as they drifted off with a 63-14 victory over Bates College in a NESCAC football game at Garcelon Field on a balmy Saturday afternoon.
Kennedy intercepted Bates quarterback Colton Bosselait’s pass and ran the ball back 51 yards to the Bobcats’ 9-yard line. Trinity (8-0) suffered a rushing loss and was pushed back to the 24, but on the next play, quarterback Spencer Fetter, who threw three touchdowns for the day, passed the ball to Sean Clapp for a touchdown. Fetter completed 24 of his 32 passes for 362 yards.
Matthew Jumes booted the extra point and Trinity was in command with a 7-0 lead just 1:02 into the first quarter.
“It was a good start to the game,” Kennedy said. “It got some juice in our veins and it got the offense rolling.
“Our performance was good. We came out here (with) a game plan in mind and all we had to do was execute. It was a good game, good performance and we are happy to be 8-0. The job is not finished. We’ve got one game to go (against Wesleyan University).”
Bates fell to 2-6 with the loss on senior day. The Bobcats finish their season next Saturday at Hamilton.
The quick turnover and score was only the beginning as Trinity’s eager offense and unyielding defense raised havoc.
The Bantams interrupted the Bobcats’ second possession with another interception. Tyler Jameson snatched the ball on another Bosselait pass at the 50-yard line and brought the ball back to the 32. Trinity moved to the 27, where running back Tyler DiNapoli (three TDs, 127 yards rushing) took the handoff from there and scored, giving his team a 14-0 lead at 3:31 in the first quarter.
The Bantams pulled off their third interception in the second quarter and set up another touchdown run. William Crowley intercepted Bosselait’s pass at the Bates’ 35 and carried the ball to the 25, where the Bantams eventually moved to the 13. Fetter reeled off the 13-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Walsh.
Trinity’s offense continued to dominated the Bobcats for the entire game. By the end of the first half, Trinity built a solid 28-0 lead.
“The three interceptions in the first half — that changed the game right there,” Trinity coach Jeff Devanney said. “We knew they were going to chuck the ball against us. We worked hard on (the Bobcats) all week (in practice). So those interceptions made a big difference.
“This is a good team. We have a great group of leaders on this team. It is a player-led team — a lot of seniors. They show up to work every week. It has been a pleasure to coach these guys.”
The Bantams returned in the third quarter to amass another 28 points. DiNapoli scored two of his three touchdowns and Carl Messina delivered his second of two touchdowns, with his first coming in the first quarter. DeVante Reid also scored on a 60-yard pass from Fetter.
The Bobcats finally answered with their first touchdown in the that third quarter. Christian Olivieri, who caught five passes for 113 yards, scooped up a 71-yard pass from Bosselait (118 yards passing) and Archie Green split the uprights on the extra-point attempt.
“Trinity is well-coached,” Bates coach Matt Coyne said. “I have a lot of respect for Coach Devanney and his staff. They have a whole team that returned from last year … We knew the challenge ahead of us for today.”
Coyne said mistakes against the best team in the league proved costly to the Bobcats.
“We stayed resilient through it,” Coyne said. “Regardless of the score, it is our first year together and we have to be able to live in the moment and build off of it. It is going to take some time to get to where we want to get to, but that’s the bar they just went against right there — and I think they just have to see that and understand the work they have to put in the offseason, the work they have to put in throughout their careers that it takes to get to the pinnacle of this league … so it is going take some time. …”
Trinity delivered one more touchdown in the fourth quarter when Zander Zebrowski spilled into the end zone on a 7-yard rush.
Bates, however, had the final say and scored its second touchdown. Olivieri came through again when he caught Bosselait’s 28-yard pass and scored.
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